Saturday, January 26, 2013

Milwaukee
– State legislators made budget cuts that forced County Sheriff
David Clarke to lay off and furlough 48 officers for this fiscal
year.

His
response to taxpayers?

“I
need you in the game,” he said in a controversial 30-second radio
spot that has some folks popping their fingers and saying, 'Right
on,' and others calling for a check on violence and the potential for
bloody murder.

“With
officers laid off and furloughed, simply calling 911 and waiting is
no longer your best option. You can beg for mercy from a violent
criminal, hide under the bed, or you can fight back...Consider taking
a certified safety course in handling a firearm so you can defend
yourself until we get there.”

It's
all part of an ongoing debate that has raged throughout the dairy
state for several years over concealed carry handgun licensing, open carry, and the
duty of the average citizen to get proactive in his own defense.

Statists
are against the concept. They argue there is no need for an ordinary
citizen to take up arms. Among their ranks are many police officers
and chiefs of police.

Libertarians
are very much proponents. They say it's a God-given right to match
deadly force with deadly force. It's the central tenet of the “Castle
doctrine,” which allows such a response to deadly aggression in the
home.

A
sample of the kind of rhetoric from those who stand in opposition:

“I
feel like this is such an irresponsible thing for our chief public
safety officer of a county to do,” said Jeri Bonavia, executive
director of Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort. “I think he owes this
community an apology. And if he really believes that he's not capable
of providing for our public safety he should get a different job.”